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Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/6/12, Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: PFG) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.21, payable on 12/28/12. As a percentage of PFG's recent stock price of $27.51, this dividend works out to approximately 0.76%, so look for shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. to trade 0.76% lower — all else being equal — when PFG shares open for trading on 12/6/12.

Below is a dividend history chart for PFG, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent $0.21 declared by Principal Financial Group, Inc.:

In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from PFG is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 3.05% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward.